CRICH PARISH

Samuel Lynam (1897–1954)

Driver

Royal Field Artillery

221755

Photo Valerie Jones (née Lynam) with thanks to Davina Bradley

NotesSamuel was born at Fritchley on 15 December 1896, the son of Frederick and Elizabeth Ellen Lynam who had a butcher’s shop on the Green at Fritchley and also kept the village pub, the Red Lion. After the war in 1922 he married Myrtle Allen and ran the Fritchley butchery. Sam died at Fairfield Farm, Fritchley in 1954 aged fifty-seven.

Sam was a “village character” and in the Lynam family archives there is “A Little Tale of Samuel Lynam” written as Sam would have spoken:

Samuel Lynam, the butcher of Fritchley, was passing the time of day with the doctor (John Stewarts) chatting that witch-craftery was at least as effective as some of the drugs prescribed and made his patients feel so much better – with no side effects!
John Stewarts mentioned the forthcoming wedding of a well-known Fritchley character when Sam then said “Ar suppose thay’ll bay cummin ter borra me payjarmers”. Dr John looked puzzled so Sam explained “Durst say I nivvawore owt i’ bed – nubbdi in Fritchley could afford few – an when ar got wed t’missus made me buy a pair. Ar’ve nivva worn ‘em sin – but ar lend’em aert fer honeymoons wenn ar’m arsked!”

Pony and trap outside Sam Lynam’s butcher’s shop

Newspaper Report

Derbyshire Courier 23 February 1918CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
Soldiers over on leave during the week include Dispatch Rider Herbert Mercer (R.E.), who came on Sunday. He has been in France since September, nineteen fifteen, and was last on leave about ten months ago. Lance-Corporal John Curzon, of the Tors, has been over, having recently recovered from shrapnel wounds in his shoulder. Cpl Herbert Cooper, of Fritchley, another wounded soldier, came over last Friday, after spending three weeks in Southampton Hospital, suffering with trench foot. He came from the Arras front. Driver Samuel Lynam, son of Mr F.J. Lynam is another Fritchley soldier over from France. Signaller Arthur Bowmer, one of the four soldier sons of Mr and Mrs John Bowmer, of the Cross, came from France on Tuesday. Signaller Arthur Perry, Machine Gunner, Maurice Perry, and Private Charles Perry, the three fighting sons of Mr and Mrs C.Perry of the Market Place, have also been over together. The two former have been in France for about three years, never met each other. Maurice has been wounded and gassed four times.